vulnerability

American  

[vuhl-ner-uh-bil-i-tee] / ˌvʌl nər əˈbɪl ɪ ti /

Rarely vulnerableness

noun

1. openness or susceptibility to attack or harm.

   We need to develop bold policies that will reduce the vulnerability of farmers to drought and floods.

2. willingness to show emotion or to allow one’s weaknesses to be seen or known; willingness to risk being emotionally hurt.

   The foundation for open communication consists of honesty, trust, and vulnerability.

3. the condition of needing supportive or protective social services and community resources because of advanced age, poverty, disability, etc..

   the vulnerability of disabled senior citizens.

4. Biology, likeliness to be classified as an endangered species in the near future unless circumstances improve.

   the vulnerability of the giraffe.

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Etymology

Origin of vulnerability

First recorded in 1800–10; vulnerable ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

Example Sentences

Lerosey-Aubril - who is also French - and Ortega-Hernández selected the name to recognize Cousteau's efforts to highlight the beauty and vulnerability of marine life.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

College senior Benjamin Brundage helped uncover the Kimwolf botnet, which exploited a vulnerability in Ipidea’s software to launch over 26,000 cyberattacks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

She describes her personal experiences with an insight, vulnerability and openness that is reminiscent of the raw emotions of Peet’s recent performances, which traffic in an understated, unassuming power.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

The fact that credit markets had been at record-tight levels running into the Iranian war heightens the vulnerability of credit markets, although Bergeron did acknowledge the market reaction thus far has been phlegmatic.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

The second type of vulnerability stems from a quirk of history.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• susceptibility